Hinge with spring for counter-balance of flaps



Dec. 10, 1968 w. GRONBACH 3,414,933

HINGE WITH SPRING FOR COUNTER-BALANCE OF FLAPS Filed July 26, 1965 4 h et 1 Dec. 10, 1968 w. GRONBACH 3,414,933

HINGE WITH SPRING FOR COUNTER-BALANCE OF FLAPS Mm W J Dec. 10, 1968 w. GRONBACH HINGE WITH SPRING FOR COUNTER-BALANCE OF FLAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1965 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

1311(6)??? 3 102 hrs/7n (M77 baa/5 Dec. 10, 1968 w. GRONBACH 3,414,933

HINGE WITH SPRING FOR COUNTER-BALANCE OF FLAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4 Flled July 26, 1965 FIG. 7

fill mai /z.

Ila-Hal v hc/fi Gr077gb 7, 77572762 United States Patent 18 Claims. 61. 16-480) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hinge structure for freezer cabinets of the kind having lids pivotable about a horizontal axis comprising an elongated joint member fixed to the freezer cabinet, a lid fixedly mounted on the joint member so that the pivot protrudes along its axis laterally into the lid. A counterbalancing and closing mechanism is mounted within and attached to said lid and said pivot. The hinge is arranged so that only that portion of the pivot which engages said joint member protrudes from said lid so that the insulating integrity of the lid is maintained. The counterbalancing and closing mechanism includes a curved line pivotally mounted on the pivot with its free end forming a closing curved portion and adjacent thereto in the direction of the pivot an arch-shaped compensating curved portion, said portions being separated from each other by a reversing edge. A guide arm is pivotally attached to said lid and carries rollers at the free end thereof which ride on the curved portions and over the reversing edge. A spring guide rod is pivotally mounted on the free end of the guide arm and the other end of the spring guide rod is mounted in a springlike means fixedly mounted in said lid. A compression spring is mounted on said spring guide so that the rollers in the closed position rest against the closing curved portion under pressure.

The invention concerns a hinge with spring for counterbalancing flaps, such as covers, lids, hoods, etc., especially on deep freezers, which are swivel-mounted around a horizontal axis and on which the pivot protruding laterally into the flap is mounted in a joint which is attached to the body of the freezer.

Hinges of this type are normally mounted on the outside and at the rear of the freezer. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the cover swings out to the rear when the freezer is opened so that the freezer cannot be placed directly against the wall. The width of the freezer, which is enlarged by the external hinges, is also frequently inconvenient when the freezer is transported through doors. Finally, any external hinge affects the design of the freezer, the attractive shape of which contributes a great deal to the sales success nowadays.

The described disadvantages of the external hinges could only be eliminated, until now, by equipping the cover with one journal each at the sides around which the cover can be opened or closed. In order to render the cover torque weightless within a certain swing range, a lever arm was mounted at the cover at a certain distance from the fulcrum. The bearing of this arm is in the freezer and is supported by a spring. This design makes it impossible to construct the hinge as a finished part with counter-balance and closing mechanism but rather calls for installing the individual parts into the freezer or the lid one by one .in succession. Another difficulty is presented by the fact that coil springs have linear characteristics only. The known freezers with internal hinges therefore can only offer counter-balance of weight through part of the aperture angle of the lid, depending on how the spring is designed. Another disadvantage of the exist- 3,414,933 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 ing freezers consists in the fact that the lid does not seal well in the closed position due to the lack of a reversing function of the counter-balance and closing mechanism.

As compared to this development in technology, the invention is based on the problem of designing an internal hinge which, while generating torques changing according to the cosine function, has a reversing point which can be controlled definitely, and in which the conditions have been created for comprising all the components of the counter-balance and closing mechanism in one single unit. The solution of the problem by the invention consists, in the case of a hinge of the type described previously, in the fact that the counter-balance and closing mechanism is located inside the flap and is mounted, on the one hand, on the pivot and, on the other hand, at the flap from which merely the pivot end engaging in the joint protrudes. A further extension of the invention is that the counter-balance and closing mechanism consists of a curved part mounted on the pivot and held in place from the outside, at the free end of which there is a closing curved part, connected to which in the direction of the pivot there is an arch-shaped compensating curved part. The latter two parts are separated from one another by a reversing edge. The counter-balance and closing mechanism further consists of a guide arm, at the free end of which a roller is provided which, in the closed position, rests against the closing curved part due to the effect of the spring which is swivel-mounted in the flap and is subject to initial tension. Such a counter-balance and closing mechanism ensures good sealing of the flap in the closed position without any aids.

The invented design is particularly advantageous if the entire counter-balance and closing mechanism is combined in an independent component by way of a preferably U-shaped casing. For facilitating the mounting of the mechanism, the invention has been developed further to include the extension of the boring for mounting the pivot in the casing, to a mounting longitudinal slit on one side. For improving the mounting, the invention further provides for an extension of the mounting surface of the borings on the inside of the casing by approximately semicircular material openings.

The journals are held in place from the outside, accord ing to the invention, in such a manner that the mounting boring of the joint is designed polyhedrally, and the appropriately designed end of the journal is designed conically, while both are connected to one another, without play, by way of a screw in a fixed position.

A further development and, at the same time, an immovement of the hinge described so far consists in designing the pivot as journal forming a unit preferably with the joint. This journal has a supporting surface for the counter-balance and closing mechanism. Whereas, according to a previous, not published proposal of the claimant, the counter-balance and closing mechanism is supported by the fixed hinge part, the present invention provides for the counter-balance and closing mechanism is located, in line with the main patent, in the part of the hinge mounted at the flap so that it can be swivelled, together with the flap, around the journal, contrary to the previous proposal. In the preferred design of the journal with the joint in one piece, there is the added advantage that the hinge makes a more elegant optical impression according to the present invention because not even a screw is visible from the outside.

A further development of the invention is the conical design of the supporting surfaces of the journal. This results in all components of the counter-balance and closing mechanism engaging without play. In practice, this is manifested by the fact that the hinge functions completely without transition.

Finally, the invention comprises a combination of the counter-balance and closing mechanism according to the above-mentioned, previous proposal of the claimant with the invention just described which had not been possible without certain modifications of the proposed older counter-balance and closing mechanism. This invention consists in the spring being supported at one end in the hinge part, which is mounted at the flap, by way of a spring guide rod with initial tension, and touching with its other end the second fixed hinge part via the end of the spring guide rod and a winnow connected to the latter; in a guide being provided for the contact point of the winnow and the guide rod, this guide consisting of a swivel arm mounted at the swivel-mounted hinge part by way of a hinge pin, whereby the free end of the swivel arm is equipped with a long hole for supporting the hinge pin connecting the winnow to the spring guide rod; in the winnow having, at the end which is connected to the swivel arm, a lateral attachment equipped with a control and retightening curve which slides on the fixed hinge pin of the swivel arm when the flap is turned and catches in the closed position. "This feature ensures, on the one hand, good sealing of the flap in the closed position and eliminates any danger of self-blocking because the reversing point can be controlled perfectly. On the other hand, any noise is avoided when the flap is closed because the hinge pin in the long :hole of the swivel arm can yield a little so that contact between components of the counter-balance and closing mechanism which are essentially mounted in a fixed position is avoided when the flap is closed.

A further extension of the invention is the arrangement of a fixed connection link on the journal, to the free end of which the winnow is connected. Furthermore, the counter-balance and closing mechanism is mounted in a casing equipped with bearing borings which are widened towards the inside by material adjustments; the connection link is equipped, on the one hand, with a pin-type attachment engaging in a bearing boring, and, on the other hand, with a hole into which a bushing engages which is mounted in the boring of the casing with its other end; and these components are tightened from the inside by way of a nut on the journal, While a spring ring is placed on the bushing.

The invented hinge offers the advantages of the inside hinge and ensures at the same time the noiseless functioning during opening and closing.

The invention is explained, by way of examples, in the description below, by way of drawings in various types.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a freezer, parts of which are not shown, with a hinge according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is the same cross-section with the freezer lid in the opened position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the closed position;

FIG. 4 shows another type of the invention in a crosssection as per FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a view of this second type, as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a hinge according to another type of the invention in a lateral view, in the closed position, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the bearing of the hinge in this type of design.

A joint 4 is attached to the freezer way of screws 2 and 3 which protrude over the top of the freezer by its height. The borings for the screws 2 and 3 are designed as longitudinal slits 5 and 6 so that the joint can be adjusted in height, depending on the height of the lid 7 of the freezer. The lid 7 of the freezer is supported, by way of a pivot 8, in support borings 9 and 10 of a casing 11 which consists of U-shaped angular metal sheets. The support surface of the borings 9 and 10 is widened by approximately semi-circular material openings 12 and 13 at the inside of the casing 11. Finally, one of the borings is widened to form a mounting longiinvented hinge in the 1 at each side by tudinal slit 14 for supporting the pivot 8 in the casing 11 (see FIG. 2). One end of the pivot which engages into the corresponding support bearing 16 of the groove 4 is designed polyhedrally, as can best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Furthermore, as can be seen best in FIGURE 3, this end of the journal is also designed conically. The support boring 16 of joint 4 is designed accordingly. Journal and joint are connected, without play, in a fixed position by way of screw 17, as is shown in FIG. 3.

In modification of the example of the type illustrated, the joint 4 can also be designed as an angle-iron. This makes it possible to mount the joint on the rear of the freezer by way of longitudinal slits and screws. Such a modification of the type example gives the freezer a more attractive appearance because the longitudinal borings and screws at the rear of the freezer do not affect attractive designing of the freezer.

The counter-balance and closing mechanism consists of a curve link 18, mounted on the pivot 8 which is held in place from the outside. At its free end, it is equipped with a closing curved piece 19. This is followed, in the direction of the pivot 8, by an arch-shaped compensating curved piece 20. The closing curved piece 19 and the compensating curved piece 21 are separated from one another by a reversing edge 21. In a modified design, the closing curved piece 19 can also be designed as a rearcut edge. The closing pressure of the counter-balance and closing mechanism is thereby increased further. The customers desires and especially the type of sealing between the freezer 1 and the lid 7 will decide which type of design should be preferred.

The counter-balance and closing mechanism further comprises a guide arm 23 mounted on a bearing shaft 22 in the casing 11, at the free end of which two rolls 24 and 25 are arranged on a shaft 26. The one end of a guide rod 27 for the compensating spring 28 is connected to the shaft 26 between the rolls 24 and 25. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the coil spring 28 rests with one end on a suitably widened section 29 of the spring guide rod 27 and with the other end on a spring guide tube 31 via a stage 30. This tube has a thread on the outside and rests on a knife-edge bearing 33 in the opposite side walls of the casing 11 through the use of a counterpoise 32 which is equipped with a thread on the inside. The tension of the coil spring 28 can be changed by turning the spring guide tube 31.

The curved link 18 is designed rectilinear on the side opposite the arch-shaped compensating curved piece 20, and is essentially parallel to the compensating curved piece. As can be seen from FIG. 2, this design is important so that the curved link 18, enclosed in the lid 7, does not impede the upwards motion of the lid 7. In the opened position of the lid, the rear edge of the curved link is therefore parallel to the rear inner edge of the In the closed position illustrated by FIG. 1, the rolls 24 and 25 rest against the closing curved piece 19 due to the pressure exerted by the spring 28 which is supported in a swivel-mounted bearing in lid 7 or in the casing 11, enclosed in the lid, and which is subject to initial tension.

The entire compensating and closing mechanism is, thus, combined in one independent component by casing 11, and can be placed and mounted inside lid 7 subsequently by way of the screws 34 and 35. Only the end 15 of the journal 8, which engages into the joint 4, protrudes over the lid 7. It is, thus, possible to line the lid with the necessary insulating material, without taking the counter-balance and closing mechanism into consideration. The hinge can be supplied by the supplying industry as a complete component and only has to be mounted, with a few manipulations, at the end when the entire freezer has been completed. Inserting the journal 8 with the curved link 18, which is mounted fixedly on it, is made possible by way of the mounting longitudinal slit 14.

The invented hinge functions in the following manner: The curved link 18, which is mounted on the journal which, in turn, is held in place from the outside, and the almost radius-shaped curved piece 21 have the effect that the coil spring 28 cannot exert any torque on the curved link through the guide rod 27 and the rolls 24 and 25. If, as is illustrated for a modified type, this curved piece is designed with a rear-cut, it is possible that an additional pressure is exerted in addition to the lids own troque. In this closing position, the coil spring 28 has maximum initial tension. If lid 7 is opened to approximately the rolls 24 and roll off via the reversing edge 21, controlled by the guide arm 23. From this moment on, there is a cosine-type counter-balancing by the combined action of the arch-shaped curved piece 20 of the curve link 18, of the circular motion of the guide arm 23 with the rolls 24 and 25, that is, the actual two control links, on the one hand, and the force of the coil spring 28, on the other hand. The invented hinge offers weight counter-balancing throughout the entire opening movement of the lid 27. On the other hand, the hinge provides excellent scaling in the closed position which can be increased further, if necessary, by a pressure in addition to the lids own torque. These two advantages are accomplished although the entire counter-balance and closing mechanism is incorporated in the lid so that it is invisible from the outside with the exception of the end of the journal which engages in the joint and which pro trudes from the lid. The hinge does, therefore, not disturb the external design of the freezer in any way.

The second type of the invention, as illustrated by FIGURES 4 and 5, differs from the type just described and illustrated by FIGURES 1 to 3 only by the components explained below. Unless modifications are specifically mentioned, the other components are the same as those of the type illustrated by FIGURES l to 3. Instead of the guide arm 23 provided in the type illustrated by the FIGURES 1 to 3, a curve path is now provided for in the side walls of the casing 11. Of this path, only curve path 37 is visible in FIG. 4. The curve paths are spatially arranged in the casing in such a way that a roll axis 38, which is mounted in them till an adjustable way, rests against the closing piece 19 of the curved link 18, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the roll axis is in the closed position under the effect of the spring 28 which is swivelmounted in flap 7 with initial tension. In this closed position, the roll axis will be located at the end of the curve paths which is farthest away from the journal 8. It can be easily understood that, from the point of view of function, the curve paths represent the equivalent to the guide arm 23 of the type illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 3.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the roll axis 38 is equipped with a puncture 39 in the center. The spring guide rod 27 is prevented by this puncture from lateral shifting. The spring guide rod 27 protrudes with its free end 40 into the empty space between the two parts 41 and 42 of the curve link 18 whereby the spring guide rod 27 is also prevented from shifting laterally. The roll axis 38 in the casing 11 can, therefore, not shift either laterally, without it being necessary to solder it to the casing, as is necessary in the case of the bearing shaft 22 in the type illustrated by FIGURES 1 to 3. The rolls 43 and 44 have recesses at their ends at the spots 45 and 46, and are fixed against protruding shoulders 47 and 48 of the casing 11. The protruding shoulders 47 and 48 of the casing 11 are arranged along the curve paths 37 and provide, at the same time, a greater support area for the rolls of the roll axis 38.

The hinge in the type illustrated by the FIGURES 6 and 7 consists of a flap hinge part 49 which is mounted at the lid, and a fixed hinge part which is attached to the base, such as, of a freezer. The fixed hinge part consists merely of a joint 50, a journal 51 which forms one piece with this joint and which has opposing supporting surfaces 52 and 53 for the counter-balance and closing mechanism,

and a connection link 54 which is fixed on the journal 51. The supporting surfaces 52 and 53 of the journal 51 are designed slightly conically. The same applies to the corresponding boring of the connection link 54 so that no-play engagement into the components of the counterbalance and closing mechanism is ensured which is connected to the connection link as will be explained below.

A winnow 56 is swivel-mounted at the connection link 54 by way of a hinge pin 55, and a swivel arm 58 is mounted at the flap hinge part 49 by way of another hinge pin 57. The winnow 56 is equipped with another hinge pin 59 at its lower end and is equipped with a control curve 60 and a retightening curve 61. The free end of the swivel arm 58 has a long hole 52 for supporting the hinge pin 59 which makes a shifting of the attached lever arm possible. Furthermore, the upper end of a spring guide rod 63 is mounted on the hinge pin 59 of the winnow 56.

The force of a pressure spring 64, designed as coil spring, is transmitted through the winnow 56 and the .spring guide rod 63, under guidance of the swivel arm 58, to the fixed hinge part, that is, the connection link 54, the journal 51 and the joint 50. The upper end of the pressure spring 64 rests against an appropriately enlarged stage 58 of the spring guide rod 63 while the lower end rests, via a plate 66, against a guide tube 67 which is equipped on the outside with a thread and rests on a knife-edge bearing 69 in the flap hinge part 50 through a winnow 68 which has a thread on the inside. By turning the guide tube 67, the tension of the pressure spring 64 can be adjusted to the desired lid torque before installation.

For a description of the function, reference is made to FIG. 6 which shows the flap in the closed condition. The spring 64 presses against the hinge pin 55 at the connection link 54 via the spring guide rod 63, the hinge pin 59 and the winnow 56, and therefore presses against the fixed hinge part. The hinge pin 59 is passed through the swivel arm 58 in the long hole 62. For closing the flap, the winnow 56 with its control curve 60 slides along the hinge pin 57, which is protected by a roll 70, until it has reached the position shown in FIG. 6. The shape of the control curve 60 makes sure that the hinge pin 59 maintains its position in the long hole 62 of the swivel arm 58 during the closing motion. Not only the flap has almost reached the closed position, the hinge pin 59 is pressed by the spring 64 against the opposite end in the long hole 62, shown in FIG. 6. The hinge pin 59., thus, maintains its largest possible distance from the roll 70 or the hinge pin 57 during the swivel motion of the flap. In this case, the distance of the hinge pins 59 and 57 is smaller than the distance of the journal 51 from the hinge pin 55. It is, however, also possible to arrange the distance differently if the spring characteristics are modified accordingly. Thus, the two distances mentioned can be approximately equal if the spring characteristics are selected appropriately. Thus, when the flap 49 is turned by a certain angle, the swivel arm 58 turns simultaneously by a wider angle in the type illustrated. A change of the torques according to the cosine function is obtained by the co-functioning of the spring characteristics and the attached swivel arm.

A retightening curve 61 adjoins the control curve 60 of the winnow 56. As can be seen by FIG. 6, that is, when the flap is closed, the spring 64 presses the spring guide rod 63 against the roll 70 and tries moving the winnow 56 to the left. In the process, it generates a torque in the flap which presses the flap against its sealing. If the retightening curve 61 is designed appropriately, the hinge pin 59 is pressed against its inner final position in the long hole 62 at the same time. Depending on the shape of the retightening curve, this final position is reached more or less. The position of the winnow and, therefore, the amount of the pressure of the flap against the scaling is determined thereby. Depending on the shape of the retightening curve selected, the pressure of the flap against the sealing of the base, e.g., of a freezer, will therefore be greater or smaller. It is also possible to discharge part of the flaps own weight.

If the flap is opened by approximately 15, the winnow 56 with the retightening curve 61 and the control curve 60 slides along roll 70 in such a way that the hinge pin 59 is pressed against the other end of the long hole 62 into the maximum distance with respect to roll 70 and thus turns around the hinge pin 57 with maximum swivel arm, rendering the flap weightless in every position.

The control curve 60 makes it possible that the swivel arm 58 always has its maximum effective length because the hinge pin 59 takes up its outside position in the long hole 62.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, the winnow 56 is carried along, when the flap is closed, until roll 70 rests against a stop 61 on the inside of winnow 56. By placing the stop 71 in a suitable position, it is possible to limit the final position of the flap in the pressing position, as desired.

When the flap is opened, and regardless of the size of the aperture angle, the four joints 51, and 55, 57 59 take up a position to one another in which the axis of the pin hinge 57 is located outside a triangle formed towards the other hinge pins. The pressure of the spring 64 then acts on the hinge pin 55 via the spring guide rod 63, the hinge pin 59 and the winnow 56, and counteracts the weight of the flap. When the flap is closed, a position illustrated by FIG. 6, the rear cutting of the winnow 56 in the area of the retightening curve 61 in combination with the long hole 62 of the swivel arm 53 effects a reversal of the spring force, whereas the hinge pin 57 with the roll 70 is located in such a way that its axis lies within the triangle formed by the other three hinge pins. The spring pressure now acts in the opposite sense of rotation, and the flap is pressed against the sea-ling of the container with the force of the spring in addition to the force of its own weight.

In order to limit the aperture path of the flap (as a rule, a maximum aperture angle of 90 is selected), the connection link 54 has a certain diameter at the part 83 which overlaps the journal 51. In the opened position of the hinge, the winnow 56 with its stop 71 rests against part 83, thus preventing a further opening of the flap. By selecting the diameter of part 83 in a suitable manner, one can determine the aperture angle.

The bearing of the counter-balance and closing mechanism within the swivel-mounted hinge part 49 is illustrated by FIG. 7. The U-shaped casing of the adjustable hinge part 49 has support borings 75 and 76 in the side walls 73 and 74. The support surfaces of these borings are enlarged by circular material settings 77 and 78 pointing towards the inside. The connection link 54 is equipped, on the one hand, with a pin-type attachment 79 extending into the support boring 75, and, on the other hand, with an opening 80. A bushing 81 engages into the opening 80 of the connection link 54. This bushing is mounted with its end in the boring 76 of the side wall 74 of the casing. A spring ring 82 is arranged on the bushing 81 between the side of the connection link 54 pointing towards the casing wall 74 and the circular material setting 78. The journal 51, which reaches through the boring of the components illustrated in FIG. 7, is equipped with a thread at the end protruding over the inside of the flap. Due to the conical design of the supporting surfaces 52 and 53 of the journal 51, all components of the bearing can be tightened by way of a nut from the inside on the journal. Since the bearing does. therefore, not have any play, the invented hinge functions noiselessly during opening and closing.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure for freezer cabinets or the like having lids pivotable about a horizontal axis comprising a member attached to said sabinet, a lid pivot fixedly mounted on said member so that said pivot will protrude along its axis laterally into said lid, and a counterbalancing and closing means mounted within and attached to said lid and to said pivot, said hinge being so arranged that only that portion of the pivot which engages with said member protrudes from said lid, said counterbalancing and closing mechanism consisting of a curved link pivotally mounted on said pivot, said curved link having on its free end a closing curved portion and adjacent thereto in the direction of the pivot an arch-shaped compensating curved portion, said closing curved portion and said compensating curved portion being separated from each other by a reversing edge portion, a guide arm pivotally attached to said lid, roller means attached to the free end of said guide arm, a spring guide rod, one end of said spring guide rod being pivotally mounted on the free end of said guide arm, the other end of said spring guide rod being mounted in a spring guide means fixedly mounted in said lid, a compression spring mounted on said spring guide whereby said roller means in the closed position rests against the closing curved portion under pressure.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 in which the curved link has a further edge portion opposite the arch-shaped curve portion which is shaped in such a manner that it lies parallel to the rear inner edge of said lid in the maximum opened position.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 in which one end of a spring guide is attached to said guide arm between said roller means by means of a shaft which also serves as an axle for said roller means.

4. A hinge according to claim 1 in which stop means are provided on said guide rod, said stop means acting as a thrust lock for the compression spring at the end which lies adjacent said spring guide means.

5. A hinge according to claim 1 in which said spring guide means comprises a spring guide tube threaded on the outside, said tube being supported by a knife edge bearing mounted within said casing with a winnow placed therebetween.

6. A hinge according to claim 4 in which a plate is mounted on said spring guide rod at the end opposite said stop means, said plate supporting one end of said compression spring against said guide tube.

7. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the pressure applied to the roller by the closing curve when the lid is closed is downwardly applied to the lid through the guide anm so as to augment the weight of the lid in developing a lid-cabinet sealing force.

8. A hinge structure for freezer cabinets or the like having lids pivotable about a horizontal axis comprising a member attached to said cabinet, a lid pivot fixedly mounted on said member so that said pivot will protrude along its axis laterally into said lid, and a counterbalancing and closing means mounted within and attached to said lid and to said pivot. said hinge being so arranged that only that portion of the pivot which engages with said member protrudes from said lid, said counter-balancing and closing mechanism consisting of a curved link mounted on said pivot, the free end of said curved link having thereon a closing curved portion, adjacent said closing curved portion in the direction of said pivot an archedshaped compensating curved portion, said portions being separated from each other by a reversing edge, a channelshaped casing, two curved paths arranged in the side walls of a casing, roller axis mounted therein so that in the closing position it rests against the closing curved portion, and means to exert an initial bias on said roller axis against said curved link.

9. A hinge according to claim 8 in which said bias means comprises a spring guide rod one end of which is mounted in an opening in the center of said roller axis, the free end of said curved link bearing against said roller axis, shoulder portions of said roll axis being fixed against protruding portions of said casing.

10. A hinge according to claim 8 in which the pivot is a journal preferably forming a single unit with said member and which has at least one holding surface for the counterbalan-cing and closing mechanism.

11. A hinge according to claim 10 in which said holding surfaces of said journal are conical in shape.

12. A hinge according to claim 10 in which a spring is supported with one end resting against said casing mounted on said cover through the intermediary of a spring guide rod the other end of said spring guide rod bearing against a fixed hinge portion, a winnow attached to said spring guide rod, guide means provided at the connected point of the spring guide rod and the winnow, said guide consisting of a swivel arm mounted on said channel-shaped casing by means of a hinge pin, said arm having a slot like opening in its .free end for supporting said hinge pin and connecting said winnow with said spring guide rod, said winnow having at the end connected to the swivel arm a lateral portion carrying a control curved portion and a retightening curved portion, said lateral portion sliding along the fixed hinge pin of the swivel arm when said lid is moved to catch in the closed position.

13. A hinge according to claim 12 wherein the distance of said journal from the pin connecting the winnow with the connection link is approximately the same distance as that of the hinge pins mounted on the swivel arm.

14. A hinge according to claim 12 wherein said hinge pin is protected by a roll.

15. A hinge according to claim 10 wherein said fixed connection link is arranged on the hinge pin to which the free end of the winnow is attached.

16. A hinge according to claim 15 in which support borings which are enlarged towards the inside by material openings are provided in said casing, the connection link having a pin with one end engaging said support boring and the other end engaging with an opening in a bushing mounted in a boring of the casing, a spacing ring resting against the bushing and said pin, and said pin being tightened by means of a nut attached to said journal.

17. A hinge according to claim 10 in which a portion of the connecting link which extends over all the journals has a variable diameter so that the aperture angle of the lid can be limited by moving said winnow to rest against a portion of the connecting link with its stop.

18. A hinge structure for freezer cabinets or the like having lids pivotal about a horizontal axis, said hinge comprising a first member rigidly mounted on said cabinet, a first pivot pin mounted on said member, a second member rigidly mounted on said lid, said second member being also pivoted on said first pivot pin, a curved link mounted on said pivot pin, the free end of said curved link having thereon a closing curve portion and adjacent in the direction of the pivot thereto an arch-shaped compensating curve portion, a guide arm pivotally attached to said second member, roller means .rotatably mounted on the free end of said guide arm, a spring guide, one end of said spring guide being pivotally mounted on the roller means end of said guide arm, the other end of said spring guide being mounted in a spring guide tube fixedly mounted on said second member and a compression spring mounted on said spring guide thereby placing said roller means under an initial tension.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,162,891 12/1964 Pepper 16190 3,143,366 8/1964 Nichols 287-53 3,196,482 7/1965 Bates 16-190 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DORIS L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

